BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG — Despite being the only eligible bid for Essential Air Service at the Ogdensburg Airport, Boutique Air failed to garner a recommendation from the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority’s Facilities Committee.

At the Thursday meeting the committee decided it needed more information before making a recommendation regarding the EAS contract and raised concerns that a nine-passenger flight service may not meet the airport’s needs.

The OBPA hopes to find a successor for SkyWest, which receives DOT funding for providing essential air service for the airport. The company is looking to end service, but has been ordered to continue until a replacement is found.

SkyWest provided direct flights on a 50-passenger jet to Washington D.C., and the service was well received in the North Country.

Unfortunately COVID-19 restrictions hurt the travel industry causing many airlines to scale back on services. Ogdensburg airport, which usually benefits from international travelers from Canada, was hit particularly hard due to border closures related to COVID-19 restrictions.

Airlines have faced a variety of problems related to the pandemic including staffing shortages, travel restrictions and higher fuel costs.

Looking for a new provider, the Department of Transportation requested bids for a new EAS provider.

Bids were received from Boutique Air and Air Charter Express, but it was later found that the latter did not meet DOT standards and was deemed ineligible.

Boutique’s proposal featured two flight scenarios.

The first option offers 18 non-stop flights per week, 11 flights to Logan International Airport in Boston, Mass. and seven to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. This proposal calls for $4,934,628 in subsidies the first year and $5,033,320 the second year.

The second option also involves 18 flights weekly but changes the 11-flight destination to Westchester County Airport and seven to the Baltimore/Washington area. The subsidies requested are $4,958,913 the first year and $5,058,091 the second year.

Boutique flies pressurized twin-propeller Pilatus PC-12 airplanes that seat 8 or 9 passengers.

Committee members discussed the flight scenarios Feb. 17, but did not make a recommendation.

They decided instead to gather more information from the DOT regarding an “alternative EAS” program, which would function differently than the traditional EAS program in that the OBPA would make a contract with an airline and receive reimbursement funding from DOT, but further details weren’t available.

OBPA Executive Director Steve Lawrence noted that from a financial perspective the model proposed by Boutique Air would not likely meet the needs of the airport.

He pointed out that the improvements to OGS in recent years were aimed at bringing in larger planes with more traffic.

A lengthened runway, modernized equipment and parking improvements were all aimed at offering expanded service offerings.

OBPA Chairman Vernon “Sam” Burns echoed his statement adding that Ogdensburg worked to get a Class 1 status and succeeded.

He said that Ogdensburg’s model had been proven to work and that they needed to ensure they can provide the service people have come to expect from them. Specifically, jet service to a hub airport that would allow people to travel anywhere in the country.

“That’s what I think we need to look for if we’re really going to keep investing in the airport and following what we want to do with the traveling public up north and expand our base of who we attract as passengers to our airport,” he said. “Unfortunately a nine-passenger plane will not do that.”

No decision was made and the committee directed the airport manager to find out more about the alternative EAS program with hopes of bringing that information before the OBPA board at a special meeting prior to Feb. 25 for which a date has not yet been determined.

The Facilities Committee has scheduled a meeting for Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. to discuss matters leading to the appointment of a particular corporation, which will take place in executive session, but there is no indication if it is related to EAS issues.